Stepflex Ltd

16/12/2025

🐎 Your Horse’s Hooves Speak Volumes 🐎

An unbalanced hoof isn’t just a “foot problem” — it affects your entire horse.

When a horse’s hooves are out of balance, the load through the limb is no longer distributed evenly. This means certain joints, tendons, and ligaments are forced to absorb more stress than they were designed to handle. Over time, this uneven loading can contribute to joint strain, inflammation, reduced performance, and even long-term soundness issues.

Think of it like wearing shoes with one heel worn down — eventually your knees, hips, and back feel the impact. Horses are no different.

Balanced hooves help:
✔️ Support correct limb alignment
✔️ Reduce unnecessary joint stress
✔️ Protect long-term soundness

Hoof care isn’t just about what you see on the ground — it’s about how your horse moves, feels, and stays sound for years to come. Ensuring that your horses hooves are regularly maintained by an appropriate professional in correct balance today can save joints and soft tissues from injury.

08/12/2025

Lovely evening catching up with Jodie Smith and seeing her beautiful horse. I’ve added a little before-and-after picture.

Although photos only capture a single moment in time, small details like head and neck position can make a big difference to overall posture.

In both shots the horse is standing naturally—no prompting or positioning from us.

In the second photo, you can see he’s standing much more square behind, supporting his pelvis and lower back more effectively, and placing less pressure on his quadriceps and hamstrings after treatment.

I’ll keep trying to capture these subtle yet significant changes whenever I can, and as I get better with the tech on my phone, I’ll improve the clarity of the lines and markers I use to help everyone understand what I’m looking for when supporting the horses’ wellbeing.

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

Monday morning post work treatment

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

The Rider’s Core and the Horse’s Back

When the rider’s core switches “off,” the body tends to follow the movement rather than stabilise it. This increases vertical load through the horse’s back, encouraging hollowing and tension. A stable, toned core acts like suspension — allowing the horse to lift through the thoracolumbar region and lengthen their stride.

01/12/2025

Horses rarely show SI pain in isolation. Instead, their body adapts — and these compensations can lead to new problems.

Typical compensation patterns:
• Tight or rigid lumbar region
• Overworked hamstrings, weak glutes
• Increased strain on stifles/hocks
• Front-end overload and tension
• Neck bracing as the horse seeks stability

What looks like “misbehaviour” is often the horse trying to move without hurting.

29/11/2025

SI discomfort disrupts the power transfer between the hind limbs and the spine, causing visible gait abnormalities.

Common gait changes linked to SI pain:
• Toe dragging or uneven hoof flight
• Asymmetrical impulsion
• Difficulty picking up or maintaining a lead
• Bucking or hopping in the canter
• A canter that feels flat or weak

These changes aren’t training issues — they’re pain-avoidance strategies.

26/11/2025

“Introducing the Horse’s Power-Hub: Sacroiliac Region”

At Stepflex Ltd we believe that optimal performance begins in the core of the hind-engine: the sacroiliac (SI) region.
This junction links the spine and pelvis, translating hind-limb thrust into whole-body movement. When the SI region is in pain or dysfunction, your horse’s propulsion, balance and collection are all at risk.

What to look out for:
• Decreased hind-end engagement
• Trouble with transitions or stepping under
• A shortened stride behind
At Stepflex Ltd we help equine athletes move pain-free — starting from the engine room.

25/11/2025

Lovely watching our homebred on his first away day schooling in Newmarket.
Really enjoying being back out riding and training the young horses and providing physio to some many hopeful stars.

19/08/2025

Hi everyone,

I haven’t been active on my page for a long time but just a quick announcement. After two children and life taking me in different directions.

I am back full time offering physiotherapy I will be taking on new clients for the first time in a few years.

Looki my forward to seeing a few of you back out on the circuit.

If anyone would like to get booked in then please use the call now button or drop me a WhatsApp mesage on +447875373969

Thanks Harry